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Buying a House that HAD Japanese Knotweed

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  • cloo
    cloo Posts: 1,291 Forumite
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    I wouldn't pull out on a maybe. Recent research has suggested knotweed is not the threat it has been painted as and the mood is towards downgrading as a threat. It has never destroyed a building with a foundation as far as I know (can damage garden walls and sheds), and it *is* controllable - we lived in a place with a small stand and got rid of it ourselves over the course a few years with glyphosphate.
  • hazyjo
    hazyjo Posts: 15,470 Forumite
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    Original post was from last December.


    Expect a decision was made. Would be interesting to know if they walked or bought though I suppose...
    2023 wins: *must start comping again!*
  • Car1980
    Car1980 Posts: 301 Forumite
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    hazyjo wrote: »
    Original post was from last December.

    Yes, it is the most recent knotweed post.
  • MarionM
    MarionM Posts: 2 Newbie
    edited 13 April 2019 at 9:46AM
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    Hi folks. We are about to buy a house where the owner said on the property form that there wasn’t J Knotweed present, but the next door property has it, and they have been treating it for a few years.The house we are buying is quite a long way from their boundary so we weren’t too worried .

    The neighbour has now told us the property we want does have it and he has seen the owner cutting JK and throwing it over the hedge into his property. He blames his JK invasion on our house owner.

    He says he is going to sue the new owner for damages of around £10,000.

    Our owner vacated the property several months ago and the neighbour probably doesn’t know where they have gone.

    Can the neighbour sue US for something that happened (if it’s true) before we bought the house? I wouldn’t have thought so.
  • Marvel1
    Marvel1 Posts: 7,172 Forumite
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    MarionM wrote: »
    Hi folks. We are about to buy a house where the owner said on the property form that there wasn’t J Knotweed present, but the next door property has it, and they have been treating it for a few years.The house we are buying is quite a long way from their boundary so we weren’t too worried .

    The neighbour has now told us the property we want does have it and he has seen the owner cutting JK and throwing it over the hedge into his property. He blames his JK invasion on our house owner.

    He says he is going to sue the new owner for damages of around £10,000.

    Our owner vacated the property several months ago and the neighbour probably doesn’t know where they have gone.

    Can the neighbour sue US for something that happened (if it’s true) before we bought the house? I wouldn’t have thought so.

    Have you exchanged? If not walk away, couldn't be dealing with the hassle of it all.
  • Slinky
    Slinky Posts: 9,988 Forumite
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    A question for your solicitor I would have thought.
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  • Davesnave
    Davesnave Posts: 34,741 Forumite
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    No, they can't sue you, and it's all bluster anyway, because to successfully sue one has to suffer a loss, and there's none.


    At least you know that the neighbour wants rid of it; it's the neighbours who don't care who can be a problem.


    Treating JK is a matter of understanding the life cycle and being conscientiously persistent. Anyone sensible can do it, but lenders usually require professional treatment backed by insurance. However, if the lender doesn't know....


    You've met the neighbour and we haven't. Question is, are they as daft as they sound? Never mind the knotweed, do you want to live next door, albeit at some distance?
  • MarionM
    MarionM Posts: 2 Newbie
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    Yes I think it probably is all bluster. Maybe caught the neighbour on a bad day because he was ok before. My solicitor hasn’t come across this scenario before but doesn’t see how we can be liable for a previous owners (possible) wrongdoing.
  • markin
    markin Posts: 3,848 Forumite
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    MarionM wrote: »
    Yes I think it probably is all bluster. Maybe caught the neighbour on a bad day because he was ok before. My solicitor hasn’t come across this scenario before but doesn’t see how we can be liable for a previous owners (possible) wrongdoing.




    Sounds like it could all be a lie to me, Next he will be saying 'lets just settle it now for 10k' or to his no fee lawyer in a years time You have infected his garden!
  • GB01
    GB01 Posts: 10 Forumite
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    Can anyone direct me to the original post decision please? Can't seem to find it!

    We are in a similar situation, knotweed been found previously but seller had had a professional company in treating it since 2017 and paid for a 5 year guarantee to be in place (until 2023). Seller has agreed to upgrade to 10 year guarantee and pay for the guarantee to be put into our names.
    JK is present on neighbours property (apparently treating with weedkiller...) and neighbours backing onto THEM, not us. Seller has written to both offering the professional services who said they will deal with it at a reduced price but not had responses so we can assume nothing is truly being done, but i know its not illegal.
    I can't help but feel a little put out, as we weren't made aware until we received the conveyancing pack so our offer didn't take this into account, it was already 10% under asking - but I think that's just estate agents trying their luck with ridiculous asking prices. However, we are FTBs and are slowly understanding this is rarely a smooth process. I'm happy with the company she had in, they are frequently quoted on JK articles.
    Obviously i know this is a personal decision as it's our money but am i being naive in thinking all is ok?
    We are on a tight budget and can only get flats for the same price in the same area...but again that is not a reason to go ahead.
    Solicitor says 'it's London, knotweed is everywhere some people don't think its a big deal but others do'
    Surveyor says 'its a risk'
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